Fencing update!

Story of my life!! Delayed entry on blog....apologies :/

The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of fencing, eating, and going to bed early (save the weekends lol).

I now know how to cut wires, strain both barbed and regular wire, tie them to straining posts (large wooden posts at ends of fences), I'm a little hesitant on my figure-8s (a way of tying broken wire together so that, when strained, it holds), and my ties ROCK (tying wire to metal posts....one side up, one side down). I have also used a jackhammer! Now I have a trade which I can use anywhere in the world :)

AND I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE MANUAL!!!!!!!! I've been driving the manual Utes (utility vehicles) around farms and dirt roads and I've rocked 4th gear. Nowhere on my Ontario drivers license does it say I am only registered to drive automatic, so with a few more lessons maybe they'll let me take one out for a test drive on a real road ;)

The people in the camp are ever-changing, but we've got a key group of young people that are pretty cool: Michelle and Luke (friends travelling together) and Izi (who they met in Sydney and have been travelling with since) and Nat (hairdresser living in Brisbane with her girlfriend) from England, Jonas from Germany and Kim from Alberta (the 2 newbies), and Rasmus from Sweden(the weird one). Taavi (Finnish) and Oscar (Swedish) left last Sunday, which left us all sad. Taavi went back home, and Oscar was lucky enough to get a job working on the richest farm in the Roma area. He and I got along well, mostly cuz we liked the same kind of music (a kid that likes foo fighters, killswitch engage AND Gavin DeGraw???? Winning) and they were both on my team so I lost 2 fun guys. But we power through and I have had a fine time since. The tough part is the heat and the sun, which can be intense when there is no breeze or clouds. The warmest day I've had to work was the second day at 38 degrees. It was a little much. Since then the days have been better and the nights have been cool. I see a lot of kangaroos daily, and I saw my first porcupine the other night!!! There is no Internet at the farm, so I have to go to the office to get online, which I don't do daily, unfortunately. That, along with all the frikken bugs, has been the hardest adjustment......since I'm addicted to technology :/

I watch 'big bang theory' (DVDs) a lot, since anytime I go outside I get accosted by anything with wings or legs (damn my sweet, sweet blood!!)....borrowed seasons one and two from someone in the office, and rented season three.

We get dirty working in the fields, with dirt and debris and dust and so the nightly shower is a daily occurrence. I'm used to working in long grass now, but I was sick a couple of days last week with a NASTY fever, so of course (being a hypochondriac) I thought it was malaria or west Nile or Lyme disease. I'm back to 100% now, but it was scary at the time, cuz I didn't wanna blow $80 to see the doctor, who would have told me to go home and rest and drink plenty of liquids.

It's raining right now, and we're not allowed to work when it's raining, so I'm in the Ute waiting for the men to dig two more holes and then I think we're calling it a day, since it's supposed to be heavy rains today and tomorrow.

I got a job as a mover that I had to turn down since it would not count for my 88 days (they were comfortable with saying that I was a farmhand on my form, since I was going to stay on their farm and do odd jobs on the property as well). They were going to pay $300 per week, cash in hand, and not only is that illegal, I think they were taking advantage of backpackers. That is NOT a lot of money for being a furniture mover, regardless of how many hours you work (which would have been varied). I've decided to stick with the volunteering until I meet my parents is Brisbane for Easter, and then either get a farm job for the remaining 49 days or go back to volunteering a bit more. My top priority at the moment is securing those 88 days, and the second priority is to make $600 before April 22nd so I can pay my Canadian taxes :P (without spending my Aussie savings!! LOL)

On a sadder note, Everett Carveth passed away last Monday at the age of 91. None of you ever met him, but I knew him for almost 6 years. He was Ryan's grandfather. He let us borrow his hunting cabin a couple of times, and came up with my 'Bienvenue' nickname (that none of you are allowed to use...it's reserved for Ryan's family only). I'm shedding tears even as I write this.......I wish I could have been there for Ryan and Betty (his mom) and Muriel (his grandmother) :(
I keep in contact with Ryan through emails, phone calls, and texts. He is never very far from my mind. His plan is to do some travelling in the future, so we may meet up one day, God willing.

Well it's really pissing rain now! Looks like it'll be a movie day back at camp (the farm). We're moving on Friday to a new camp, location yet unknown. This weekend the plan is to try and get comp or discounted tickets for the races, since Oscar will be there LOL

Much love, and I will try to keep you better updated xoxoxoxoxo